January 07 / 13.30 Wincanton

13.30

Soft

Virgin Bet Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £15843
  • 2m 4f 35y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
Virgin Bet Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

OUR TIP

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £2.80

Form: 1PP-92 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
After winning two small-field chases early last year he was pulled up at the two big festivals; got back on track with a narrow defeat at Doncaster (2m, good) and won't mind returning to further on softer ground; races prominently; first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

27th Apr 2024

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Elixir De Nutz

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

10yo who has been better than ever this season; soft ground was against him in the Champion Chase and prior to that he beat Jonbon by a neck to win the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft); however, the runner-up was well below his best; others make greater appeal.

50/1

5

27th Apr 2024

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Elixir De Nutz

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

10yo who has been better than ever this season; soft ground was against him in the Champion Chase and prior to that he beat Jonbon by a neck to win the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft); however, the runner-up was well below his best; others make greater appeal.

50/1

5

13th Mar 2024

Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

15:30 Cheltenham

Elixir De Nutz

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Often a front-runner; has won on soft but seems ideally suited by good/good to soft; rallied gamely to beat odds-on Jonbon in the rescheduled Clarence House here in January, making it three wins from his last four starts; however, looks far from sure to confirm placings with that otherwise superior rival who blew his chance with a dodgy round of jumping; in great form this term but needs better still to land a Champion Chase.

25/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 252-29 D

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Grade 2 winner over hurdles; only 1-12 as a chaser but placed a few times in good handicaps and there was a physical excuse for his no-show in Cheltenham's big November handicap; this belated return to soft ground is welcomed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

6th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Galahad Quest

11st 6lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

prominent, weakened gradually after 4 out

10/1

6th

6

6th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Galahad Quest

11st 6lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Questionable what he achieved behind an easy winner when back chasing at Ludlow in February and especially after a lesser run at Newbury, albeit in a strong handicap (2m4f, good to soft); on the plus side, drying conditions are in his favour and his only previous attempt at 3m was in the valuable handicap at this track in 2022; could be a player after wind surgery.

10/1

5th

5

23rd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:40 Newbury

Galahad Quest

10st 9lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

prominent, outpaced after 12th, weakened after 2 out

11/2

Form: 1115-4 D BF

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 9lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Had an excellent first season for this yard, winning over hurdles and fences before finishing fifth in the 2m4f Plate at Cheltenham; may have more to offer this season, despite his age, and 3m was perhaps a stretch on his reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

31

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Celebre DAllen

10st 6lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Completed on all three attempts over these fences, easily best of those efforts when close fourth in last season's Topham (2m5f, soft); has twice won well over about 3m/3m1f, including in November on sole start this term, but today's trip is a leap in the dark and this 13yo has easily his highest mark.

100/1

31

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Celebre DAllen

10st 6lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Completed on all three attempts over these fences, easily best of those efforts when close fourth in last season's Topham (2m5f, soft); has twice won well over about 3m/3m1f, including in November on sole start this term, but today's trip is a leap in the dark and this 13yo has easily his highest mark.

100/1

Form: /7546- C

Last run: 343 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Below his best form last season and has been absent since Trials Day at Cheltenham nearly a year ago when finishing behind Galahad Quest in a good handicap; still only a 9yo and he's very capable of defying this mark if he can get back on track; record when fresh is not overly encouraging.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

6th Feb 2024

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

16:20 Taunton

Magic Saint

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Smart chaser in his prime but last season's win was gained in a 2m4f hunter chase and he ran very poorly when returned to a handicap last June; not easy to weigh up at present and has stamina to prove over new trip here, but has become dangerously well treated.

11/2

4

14th Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 75y

Class 2

15:40 Newton Abbot

Magic Saint

10st 12lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Doesn't look the force of old and only successful once in five hunter chase outings this year; handicapper has given him a chance, however, and much may depend on effect of blinkers (replacing cheekpieces).

13/2

Form: 1PP-14 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who repelled a serial loser on his return at Market Rasen (2m5f, good to soft) but a 3lb rise found him out in a deeper race at Aintree (2m4f); should still run well, though, and could be dangerous if finding some rhythm up front (Elixir De Nutz may hassle him).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

19

14th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Kiltealy Briggs

10st 8lb

J: A P Heskin

T: Jamie Snowden

Prominent racer who could show up well for a long way if taking to these fences and it's probably a mere coincidence that he's yet to win a chase with more than six runners; 3lb below his last winning mark, he's no forlorn hope.

33/1

5th

4

4th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 2

13:45 Sandown

Kiltealy Briggs

11st 8lb

J: A P Heskin

T: Jamie Snowden

Prominent-racer who scored at Market Rasen (2m5f, good to soft) on reappearance but has failed to repeat the form, well held at Wincanton (2m4f) on latest start; back down to his last winning mark but needs to bounce back and there's a doubt about his effectiveness over this shorter trip.

16/1

5th

2

7th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 2

13:30 Wincanton

Kiltealy Briggs

11st 13lb

J: A P Heskin

T: Jamie Snowden

raced in second, pressed leader from 9th, ridden after 4 out, lost second after 3 out, weakened after 2 out

5/1

Form: 14P/3- CD

Last run: 385 days

W: 11st 11lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Very lightly raced 11yo; made a stylish start to chasing career two seasons ago with back-to-back C&D wins (good to soft/soft) on which he is well handicapped; however, was below his best when confined to the solitary start last season and he's now back from another absence; market could be helpful.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

2nd Jul 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 2

14:05 Cartmel

Messire Des Obeaux

11st 12lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: Alan King

11yo who has been lightly raced in recent seasons; well beaten at Newbury (2m4f, soft) in March last time out but won at Warwick (2m4f, good) the run before; can be effective on slow ground; not discounted.

16/1

5th

4

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:05 Newbury

Messire Des Obeaux

11st 12lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: Alan King

Fragile 11yo with low mileage; pulled up on his return from a year out but he stuck on well to win at Warwick (2m4f, good), albeit in a race that fell apart at the seams a little; only 2lb higher but not sure to be as good again.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £28.30
Straight Forecast £29.74
Trifecta £77.00

Selections

The Times:

Messire Des Obeaux

TOPSPEED:

Celebre D'Allen

LAMBOURN:

Kiltealy Briggs

SPOTLIGHT:

Galahad Quest

POSTDATA:

Elixir De Nutz

RP Ratings:

Galahad Quest

D Express:

Kiltealy Briggs

The Sun:

Kiltealy Briggs

WEST COUNTRY:

Celebre D'Allen

The Guardian:

Celebre D'Allen

The Star:

Celebre D'Allen

Telegraph:

Messire Des Obeaux

Daily Mail:

Messire Des Obeaux

Daily Mirror:

Messire Des Obeaux

Daily Record:

Messire Des Obeaux